Slag-furnace.



PATLNTBD MAYlQ, 1903,

No. 728,794.- l

' 0. S. GARRETSON.

SLAG FURNAGB. APPLICATION FILED MAmls, 1902. 'No MODEL. a SHEETS-SHEET 1 H lLI PATENTED MAY 19,l A'1903.

O. S. GARRETSON.

SLAG PURNACE. .uPLIoATIoN FILED un. 18,4902.

8 SHEETS-SHEET l2.

I0 IODEL.

Nn. 728,794. 4 PATENTBD MAY 19. 1903. 0. S. GARRBISON. SLAG PURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1902:

Mae/mes.' I 7 www UNITED STATES Patented May 19, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

SLAG-FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,794, dated May 19, 1903. Application filed March l8r, 1902.k Serial No. 98,719. (No model.)

tained in molten slag to heat airby partiallyA cooling the slag to the point at which it is congealed and non-adhesive, while still containing the bulk of its heat, and piling this hot slag in the form of small pieces or fragments in a chamber or pit, through which the air is caused to iiow which is to be heated.

The present invention is directed to a par-l ticular mechanism for partially cooling and congealing the slag; and its object is to provide a simple and durable mechanism conisisting of a rotary drum or Wheel for form-V ing or molding the slag into small pigs, bars, or pieces, which can be piled or heaped in the slag-chamber in a loose mass having numerous interstices, through which the air can be readily circulated, and whereby a large heating-surface of congealed slag is presented to the air.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure l isa longitudinal sectional elevation through an apparatus embodying the invention in line l I, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation through the apparatus in line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view on a reduced scale. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the slag-wheel on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation through the slag-wheel in line 5 5, Fig. 4.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The apparatus shown in the drawings illustrates the application of the invention to a steam-boiler.

A represents the boiler-furnace, which is provided with a grate ct or other suitable means for burning fuel, a combustion-chamber a', and a draft-passage a?, which communicates at its rear end with the smoke-fine B, provided with a damper b. The boiler shown in the drawings is of the Babcock da Wilcox type, having an upper drum C and lower inclined water-tubes O'. The products of combustion pass from the combustionchamber over the bridge-Wall d, downwardly` in rear of the latter and in front of the baffiewall d', and upwardly in rear of the latter to the smoke-flue B. A furnace and boiler of any other form, construction, and arrangement may, however, be employed, orinstead ofrhcating a boiler the invention may be em.

ployed for heating some other apparatus.

E represents a slag chamber or pit which is preferably arranged below the level of the steam-boiler furnace and to one side thereof, as indicated in Fig. l. This slag-chamber communicates at its upper end with the combustion-chamber of the boiler-furnace by a passage e. vThe lower end of the slag pit or chamber is preferably contracted, as indicated at e', and is provided with a dischargeopening e2 for the cooled slag. The slagchamber is provided in its walls near its lower end, preferably above the contracted portion, with ports f, which communicate with a horizontal flue F, surrounding the lower portion of the slag-chamber. This iiue F communicates with a vertical return flue or passage G, which connects by a horizontal passage g with the lower end of a passage g', opening into the rear portion of the draft-passage of the boiler-furnace.

H represents a fan or blower, which may be of any suitable type and arranged at any suitable point to-cause the air to circulate through the slag-chamber, the boiler, and the return flues or passages. In the construction shown the fan is located at the mouth of the passage g and operates to move the air up through the slag chamber or pit, through the boiler flues or passages, and down through the return iiues or passages g', g, G, and F and ports f to the lower-portion of the slagchamber. Y

I represents a conveyer of any suitable construction arranged below the discharge-opening e2 of the slag-chamber to receive the cooled sla-g discharged through the same and carry it off to a desired point.

ICQ

Before introducing the slag into the slag chamber or pit it is partially cooled and wheel and in which the slag becomes partially cooled and congealed as the wheel slowly rotates and from which the pigs, bars,- or pieces ot' partially-cooled slag are delivered on the lower side of the drum or wheel into the slag-chamber. This `slag drum or wheel is rotatably mounted above the slagchamber in a covered compartment, which may be an enlargement of the slag-chamber. rPhe slag-wheel (shown most clearly in Figs. -1 and 5) is provided with a hollow hubj, provided with hollow trunnions which are journaled iu bearings j', supported in any suitable manner-for instance, by beams L7`2-in the wheel-compartment. The wheel is provided with hollow spokes js, each of which communicates with the hollow hub and with a rim composed of a series of hollow sections j4. The hollow rim-sections are preferably detachabiy connected to the spokes or rimsupports js by bolts or otherwise and are formed of copper or other metal of considerable conductivity of heat and which is not easily corroded or affected by the molten slag. The rim-sections form a continuous circulatorrim, the peripheral face of which is provided with an annular series ofsmall pockets, molds, or depressions K for receiving the molten slag.

The molten slag is fed by any suitable means against the face of the drum or wheel, atthe upper side thereof, so that the slag molds 'or pockets successively receive the slag as they arevbrought by the rotation ot' the wheel to a position in which the molten slag can flow into the same. In the drawings a hopper or wide funnel L is shown for that purpose in the upper portion of the compartment in which the slag-wheel is mounted. This hopper is provided at one side of its bottom opening with a flange which ts tightly against the peripheral face of the slag-wheel and prevents the escape of the slag from the hopper except into the pockets or molds of the wheel. The molten slag is supplied to 'the hopper by a slag-spout Z or the like from the metallurglcalfurnace. Asthe slag pockets or molds are carried beneath the openbottom of the hopper the molten slag iows from the latter into the pockets or molds and fills the same.

M represents a segmental hollow lshield lwhich extends from the rear side of the hopper around the rear side of the wheel to a point beneath the latter. The wheel rotates slowly about its axis in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, and the filled slag pockets or molds are thereby carried from the upper to the lower side of the wheel. The segmental shield prevents the slag from escaping from the pockets or molds until the latter are carried past the lower end ot the shield, when the pigs, bars, or pieces of slag which have congealed during the time that they have been held in the pockets fall from the same into the slag chamber or pit. The pigs or pieces of slag pile up in the slag chamber' or pit in a loose heap or mass, through the interstices of which air can be readily circulated. The slag-wheel is slowly rotated by any suitable mechanism, preferably by a worm-wheel Q, which is secured to one of the wheel-trunnions and with which meshes a worm q, secured on a shaft q', journaled in bearings q2 in the wheel-chamber and provided with a driving sprocket-wheel or the like Q3. The one-sided oroverhanging weight of the slag on the wheel may be utilized for rotating the wheel, .in which case the described worm mechanism serves to regulate the speed.

The slag-wheel and the shield are made hollow, so that a cooling medium, such as water, can be circulated through the same to prevent the slag from burning them and for quickening the congealing process.

R represents a water-pipe which is provided with a branch r, entering one of the hollow trunnions of the wheel, and with a branch r', leading to the lower portion of the hollow shield.

r2 r3 represent exit-pipes leading, respec- A sections at the lower halt' of the wheel lled.

The hollow rim-sections are thus cooled before they move upwardly to the slag-hopper and are sufficiently cool to prevent the slag from burning the peripheral portion of the Wheel. The rim is preferably made of heavy copper, which metal has a great capacity for carrying off heat. Vhen the slag-Wheel is arranged in a Acompartment communicating with the slag chamber or pit, as shown, the heat radiated from the slag on the wheel aids in heating the air passing through the slagchamber.

The operation ofthe apparatus is as follows: The molten slag is spouted into the feed-hopperL, from which it flows into the slag pockets or molds of the wheel. The slag is retained in these pockets or molds sufficiently long to become solid, so that when it drops from the pockets or molds at the lower side of the wheel into the slag chamber or pit the slag is solid and non-adhesive and forms a loose heap or mass. When irst starting the apparatus and until the slag reaches a sufficient height in the pit or chamber, the furnace can be operated by a fire built on the grate a. While the revis burning on the IIO grate the damper b in the smoke-fine B is open, and the products ofcombustion pass from the combustion-chamber through the boiler-passages and out through the smokeiiue. When sufficient slag has accumulated in the slag chamber or pit to heat the boiler, the damper is closed and the fire permitted to die. The fan H is then started and the air, as indicated by the arrows, is drawn up through the slag chamber or pit and the slag therein, thence through the boiler-passages and into the return-passages, which connect with the ports f in the lower portion of the slag chamber or pit. The circulation is continuous and forms an endless air-belt,v in which the hot air from the slag chamber or pit passes to the boiler to heat the latter, and after it has given up more or less of its heat to the boiler is returned to the slag-chamber to be reheated. The cooling slag is removed from the lower end of the chamber or pit from time to time by the conveyer I. The Water, which becomes heated by passing through the slag-wheel, can be used for feeding the boiler or for other purposes.

I claim as myinventionl. The combination of a rotary slag wheel or drum provided in its peripheral face with molds or pockets for receiving the molten slag, said wheel or drum consisting of a hollow hub, hollow spokes radiating from said hub, and a rim composed of hollow separable sections detachably connected together and to said spokes, and means for causing a cooling agent to iiow through said hollow hub, spokes and rim-sections, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a rotary slag wheel or drum provided with molds or pockets for receiving molten slag, means for coolingsaid wheel, and a segmental shield which confines the slag in the molds or pockets during part of the rotation of the wheel, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a hollow, rotary slag wheel or drum provided with molds or pockets for receiving molten slag', means for causing a cooling agent to flow through said wheel, and a segmental shield which confines the slag in the molds or pockets during part of the rotation of the wheel, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a hollow wheel or drum provided with molds or pockets for receiving molten slag, means for causing a cooling agent to flow through said wheel, a hollow segmental shield which coniines the slag in the molds or pockets during a part of a rotation of the wheel, and means for causing a cooling agent to flow through said hollow shield, substantially as set forth.

5. The combin'ation of a slag chamber, means for circulating air through thesame, a rotary slag-wheel provided with molds or pockets for receiving and congealing the molten slag, and a segmental shield for conning the slag in said molds or pockets until congealed and discharging the congealed slag into said slag-chamber, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a slag chamber, means for circulating air through the same, a rotary slag-wheel provided with peripheral slag molds or pockets which are inverted by the rotary movement of the wheel to discharge the congealed slag into said slag-chamber, means for supplying molten slag to said molds or pockets above the axis of rotation of the wheel, and a segmental shield for retaining the slag in said molds or pockets for a part of the rotation of the wheel, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a slag chamber, means for circulating air through the same, a rotary slag-wheel provided with peripheral slag molds or pockets which are inverted by the rotary movement of the wheel to discharge the congealed slag, a hopper for supplying molten slag to said receivers at a point above the axis of rotation of said wheel, and a seg- -f mental shield which surrounds a portion of said wheel and prevents the congealed slag from discharging from said molds or pockets until the same pass the end of the shield, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a slag chamber, means for circulating air through the same, a rotary, hollow slag-wheel provided with molds or pockets for receiving and congealing the molten slag, a segmental hollow shield surrounding a portion of said wheel, and

\means for supplying a cooling medium to said hollow wh eel and to said hollow shield, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 10th day of March,

OLIVER S. GARRETSON. Vitnesses:

JNO. J. BONNER, C. M. BENTLEY. 

